Memory's friends and enemies

News-Times, The (Danbury, CT)

Published 7:00 pm, Tuesday, March 29, 2005

"The true art of memory is the art of attention." - Samuel Johnson
The Alzheimer's Association says to fight dementia, stay mentally healthy now. Here are some specifics:
1. Rest and relaxation: Rest really does clear the head.
2. Focus and pay attention: "Do what you are doing" is an old saying that holds true.
3. Find your time: Do your most brain-intensive work at your most productive time of day.
4. Re-create conditions: As you put it in, take it out. Standing in the place where something happened will bring back the episode. Take a test in the same condition as you studied for it.

5. Tools: Take notes, use reminders. "People tell folks don't write things down, try to remember," said research psychologist Donna LaVoie. "That's just the opposite of what you should do. Tie the string around your finger. Do what you need to do to remember."
6. Read: Reading makes the brain work. It must paint its own pictures, draw conclusions, and analyze information.
7. Use names and you won't forget them: Upon meeting a person, repeat his or her name as often as possible while focusing on the person. Your memory will connect the name with the face.
Here are some enemies of a healthy memory:

� Stress and anxiety: Not only do they detract from your ability to focus and pay attention, they have biochemical elements that reduce the ability to form memories.

� Distraction: If You Divide Your Attention By Multitasking, You Diminish What You'll remember.